Cue-pointing tool.



F. C. COOK.

CUE POINTING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-l8. 19l5.

Patented May 8, 191?.

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Patented May 8 x a a E \\\W F. C. COOK.

CUE POINTING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-18. 1915- UTE %TATE PATEN @FFTQE.

FRANK C. COOK, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CUE-POINTING TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1917.

Application filed August 18, 1915. Serial No. 46,028.

be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tools for facilitating the pointing of cue sticks, the term one in this connection meaning a billiard one or a cue used for playing pool and similar games. The part of the one which is termed the point in this specification is distinct from the cue stick, being composed of different material and is adapted to be renewed from time to time as occasion may require. These points are stock articles and are of various lengths. It some times happens that in renewing a point, the end of the cue stick is so injured or broken that a portion of it must be removed, and in order to maintain the cue of the original length, a point which is somewhat longer than the original point, is applied to the one stick.

These points when purchased are equipped with a screw protruding axially therefrom and adapted to enter the end of the one stick. One of the functions of my improved tool, is the boring of the hole in the end of the cue stick to receive the screw of the point. The tool includes a chuck adapted to hold the auger for boring the screw receiving hole in the end of the one stick. Another element of the tool consists in a vise or clamp for holding the cue stick in axial alinement with the auger during the boring operation. This auger is of such construction that it not only bores a central hole for the screw of the point, but also forms a groove around this hole, the said groove being adapted to receive a strengthening sleeve or ferrule adapted to prevent the one stick from splitting when the screw of the point is inserted therein. The auger also contains a third .member adapted to smooth the end of the one stick at right angles to its axis.

The chuck which holds the anger, is slidable longitudinally on the frame of the tool and is adapted to be manually reciprocated, whereby it becomes practicable to move the auger a number of times if desired, away from the end of the one stick during the boring operation, for the purpose of removing the cuttings produced by the cutters of the auger. This slidable movement in a longitudinal direction is manually imparted through the medium of a lever fulcrum on the frame and connected by means of a link with the shaft upon which the chuck is mounted, this shaft being also freely rotatable for auger operating purposes.

The tool contains still another feature con sisting of a knife adapted to fashion the one stick after a point has been applied, so that the stick at its end adjacent the point shall be of the same diameter as the engaging end of the point. It frequently happens that after a point is applied, the adjacent end of the one stick will be considerably larger than the engaging end of the point. By means of this knife the one stick is gradually tapered whereby the cue stick end is made to conform to the diameter of the point as just explained.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction I will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing,'

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved tool, showing the same applied to a table, the latter being shown in fragmentary section.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on'the line 2, 2 Fig. 1 looking toward the right.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the tool or a view looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the tool looking in the direction of arrow 6, Fig. 3, the parts being shown on a larger scale, and partly in section.

Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in section illustrating the cutter for trimming the one stick.

Fig. 6 is an end view of'the same or a view looking in the direction of arrow 6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the one stick auger shown on a larger scale than in the other views.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the end of the one stick after it has been prepared by my improved tool, for receiving the one point.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section of the cue showing the point applied.

The same reference characters represent the same parts in all the views. Let the numeral 5 designate a frame composed of a base plate 6, upwardly projecting lugs 7 at one end and suitably spaced transversely. At the opposite end of the base 6 are located two vertically disposed projections or lugs 8 which are longitudinally alined and also suitably spaced.

Between the lugs or projections 7, is located the vise or clamp 9 consisting of twin jaws 10 which are slidably mounted on upper and lower pins 12 and 13. Between the pins 12 and 13, is located an adjusting screw 1a which is journaled in the projections 7 as shown at 15 and provided with oppositely threaded portions 16 and 17, one of these portions having a right hand thread and the other a left hand thread. These parts 16 and 17 of the screw engage openings provided with cooperating threads formed in the respective jaws. The screw extends beyond the adjacent projection 7 at one extremity and to this extension which I will designate by the numeral 77 ,is applied a wing collar 18 to facilitate manual operation. The upper portion of each jaw is recessed as shown at 19, these recesses being so shaped that they will grasp and approximately conform to the shape of the one stick or other-cylindrical or approximately cylindrical device. The special function of this vise is to hold the cue stick 20 during the operation of preparing it to receive the point, and also during the operation of applying the point after the stick is properly fastened.

'The projections 8 are provided with plain or unthreaded openings 21 through which passes a shaft or cylindrical bar 22 to one extremity of which is applied an adjustable chuck 23 of ordinary construction and adapted to hold the auger 24. These angers may be of varying size but the chuck is adjustable to coiiperate with the different sizes. The bar 22 is slidable longitudinally and also freely rotatable in the openings 21. At the extremity of the bar 22 opposite that which carries the chuck, is located a hand crank 25 which is secured to the bar by a set screw 26 or other suitable fastening device, whereby the bar 22 may be rotated through the medium of the crank. Just beyond the collar of the crank in the direction of the chuck is a ring 27 which engages the reduced end 28 of the bar, the said ring being located between the shoulder 29 on the bar and the collar 30 of the crank. This ring 27 is loose on the bar 22 to permit the latter to rotate freely therein.

A link 31 is pivotally connected at one extremity as shown at 32 with the ring 27 7 while the opposite extremity of the link is pivotally connected as shown at 33 with a lever 3t fulcrumed 011 the frame of the tool as shown at 35. The link 33 is connected with this lever intermediate its extremities, the fulcrum point being below the point 33 where the link is connected with the lever. The upper part 36 of the lever extends a sufficient distance above the bar 22, to permit the operator to easily shift the bar longitudinally or in the direction of its axis dur-' ing the boring operation.

As shown in the drawing an adjustable bracket 37 is applied to the lower surface of the base 6 by means of a set screw 38. This bracket has a flat forwardly located part 39 perforated as shown at 40 to receive the shank 4.1 of the set screw. The base 6 of the frame is provided with a series of longitudinally alined threaded openings 42* adapted to receive the shank of the screw. By virtue of these last named openings, the bracket is adjustable to make it practicable to apply the tool to any pool or billiard table even though the horizontal thickness of the rim 13 may vary within a considerable range. This bracket 18 provided with a downwardly and rearwardly lnclined memher 4 1 and cotiperating horizontally disposed member 45, these two members being arranged to form a suitable angle. The member 141- is adapted to engage the inner wall of the cushion member 16 of the table and is arranged in opposing relation to a fastening screw 47 which engages a threaded opening 48 formed in a depending arm 49 which is secured to the frame of the tool by a set screw 50. The forward extremity of this screw 47 carries a disk 51 which bears against the outer wall 52 of the table. As this screw 47 is tightened, the tool may be applied to any pool or billiard table, thus making the table a support for the tool and obviating the necessity of a special bench thus making it practicable forthe operator to go into any pool or billiard room and point ones as may be required. without the aid of special apparatus other than the tool itself.

Supported upon a stationary rod or spindle 53 which is mounted on the frame of the tool below the axis of the bar '22, is a trimmer 54 which consists of a shank 55 of ordinary construction, to the free extremity of which is applied by means of a pivot screw 56, a holder plate 57 to which is adj ustably applied a knife 58 by means of set screws 59 which are threaded into the holder plate 57 and pass through slots 60 formed in the knife. By loosening these screws the knife may be adjusted to cause more or less of its beveled cutting extremity 61, to extend beyond the holder plate 57. The shank 55 of this trimmer has an unthreaded'openmg in its extremity remote from the knife, and through which the retaining rod 53 p the chuck and secured.

passes. This shank is freely movable upon the rod 53, in order that the trimmer may be properly manipulated during use.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved tool will be readily understood. Assuming that it is desired to apply a point 63 to a one stick 20, this stick is placed between the jaws 10 of the vise and these jaws are adjusted to hold the stick securely in place with its free extremity extending in the direction of the chuck 23 carrying auger 24-. This auger is then moved to cause its boring element 64: to engage the end of the one stick. This movement is accomplished through the medium of the lever 36. The bar 22 is then rotated through the medium of the crank 25, whereby the opening 65 is formed axially in the end of the cue stick and of suitable depth to receive the portion 75 of the screw which is carried by the point 63. During the boring of the hole 65, a circumferential groove 66, is formed in the end of the cue stick around the opening 65 by means of cutters 67 forming a part of the auger. In the rear of the cutter 67 is located a second cutter 68 adapted to smooth the end of the cue stick at right angles to its axis. In view of the fact that this auger has three members, it is important that the bar 22 be slidable longitudinally in its supporting projections 8 during the use of the auger, in order to remove the cuttings which would otherwise accumulate and prevent the proper operation of the auger. This movement of the bar whereby the parts of the auger may at intervals be moved away from the one stick, and then returned to their operating posi tion is accomplished through the medium of the hand lever 3l and its link connection with the bar 22 as heretofore explained.

After the cue stick has been fashioned as shown in Fig. 8, a reinforcing sleeve or ferrule 69 is crowded into the groove 66, after which, the auger 2a is removed from the chuck 23 and the cue point 63 placed within The bar 22 is then moved longitudinally to cause the part 75 of the screw to enter the opening 65 of the one stick, after which the bar 22 is rotated until the part 7 5 of the screw has entered the one stick to its full length, and brought the adjacent extremity of the point 63 into engagement with the cue stick end. Then if the cue stick adjacent the point is larger than the point, the trimmer 54: is used to overcome this difiiculty, and by virtue of the fact that this trimmer is freely movable on the rod 53, and in View of the further fact that the holder plate 57 is freely rotatable on the pivot screw 56, the cue stick may be tapered by beginning the cutting operation at a sufficient distance from the point. During this operation, the jaws of the vise are loosened to release the cue stick, after which the bar 22 is turned causing the cue stick to rotate together with the point which is still secured within the chuck as heretofore explained. This operation is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

Below the screw it for adjusting the jaws of the vise or clamp, these jaws are provided with oppositely arranged recesses 70 which may be utilized to hold the screw tightly between the jaws of the vise, in order to remove it from the cue stick, in the event that in removing the point 63 preparatory to applying another point, the point should be detached from the screw, leaving the part 7 5 of the screw within the one stick. It would of course then be necessary to remove the screw from the cue stick in order to prepare the latter to receive a new point; and through the medium of the recesses 70, the j aws of the Vise may be tightened upon the protruding part of the screw after which by rotating the one stick in the proper direction the latter will be disengaged from the screw.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,

1. A one pointing tool including a rotary chuck, a support for the cue stick, said sup port being suitably spaced from the chuck, a trimmer comprising a shank mounted to be swung manually on a pivot whose axis is parallel with the axis of the chuck, and a knife pivotally applied to the free extremity of the shank, the axis of the pivot being perpendicular to the axis of the chuck, the knife being also slidably adjustable bodily on the shank.

2. A cue pointing tool including a rotary chuck, a support for the cue stick, said support being suitably spaced from the chuck, and a trimmer including a shank mounted to be swung manually on an axis parallel with the axis of-the chuck, a holder plate rotatably applied to the free end of the shank, and a knife provided with elongated slots mounted upon the holder plate and means secured in the latter and projecting through said slots whereby the said knife is slidably adjustable upon the holder plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK C. COOK.

Witnesses:

GRACE HUs'roN, A. EBERT OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

